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Bengaluru. In a rare and complex surgical feat, doctors at Aster CMI Hospital have successfully performed a complex tracheal resection and anastomosis to cure a 56-year-old man from Anantapur who had been battling severe breathlessness for over 16 months. The man, who was nearly immobile due to continuous breathing difficulties, has now made a full recovery and returned to normal life.
The patient initially developed a severe respiratory infection that required ventilator support and tracheostomy. However, once the tube was removed, he began suffering from irreversible narrowing of the windpipe. This condition left him gasping for breath even at rest and required multiple stenting procedures over the months to temporarily open his airway.
Dr. Narayana Subramaniam, Lead Consultant – Head and Neck Surgery & Oncology, Aster CMI Hospital, said. Despite undergoing stenting four times, his relief was short-lived. The narrowing was located retrosternal (behind the chest bone), making traditional surgical access risky. But through careful upper neck mobilization, we were able to access and successfully reconstruct the airway without having to split the chest open for access. We put in a temporary stent across the repair which was soon removed.
Tracheal surgery is rarely done due to the complexity and the surgical expertise required.This case also underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in tackling challenging airway conditions. The patient’s life has been transformed. He is now able to walk, move freely, and live without oxygen support or limitations.
The surgery, performed in collaboration with Dr. Sunil Kumar K, Lead Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology and Dr. V Arun, Lead Consultant – Anesthesia, involved removing the narrowed portion of the trachea and seamlessly reconnecting the healthy ends. Post-surgery, the patient was discharged within five days and is now living symptom-free, with no trace of breathlessness or airway obstruction.
SGS Lakshmanan, Chief Operating Officer, Aster CMI Hospital, commented:
“This case highlights the strength of collaborative, multi-disciplinary care at Aster CMI. Performing such a rare and complex airway surgery required exceptional coordination between our surgical, pulmonology, and anesthesia teams. We are proud to have helped the patient reclaim a normal life, and this reinforces our commitment to delivering advanced, compassionate care for even the most challenging cases.”